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Spatial-Temporal Characteristics of Arctic Summer Climate Comfort Level in the Context of Regional Tourism Resources from 1979 to 2019

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  • Yutao Huang

    (Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Geographical Environment Monitoring and Spatial Information Service in Cold Regions, Harbin Normal University, Harbin 150025, China)

  • Xuezhen Zhang

    (Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China)

  • Dan Zhang

    (Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China)

  • Lijuan Zhang

    (Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Geographical Environment Monitoring and Spatial Information Service in Cold Regions, Harbin Normal University, Harbin 150025, China)

  • Wenshuai Zhang

    (Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Geographical Environment Monitoring and Spatial Information Service in Cold Regions, Harbin Normal University, Harbin 150025, China)

  • Chong Ren

    (Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Geographical Environment Monitoring and Spatial Information Service in Cold Regions, Harbin Normal University, Harbin 150025, China)

  • Tao Pan

    (Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Geographical Environment Monitoring and Spatial Information Service in Cold Regions, Harbin Normal University, Harbin 150025, China)

  • Zheng Chu

    (Heilongjiang Meteorological Sciences Research Institute, Harbin 150030, China)

  • Yuying Chen

    (Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Geographical Environment Monitoring and Spatial Information Service in Cold Regions, Harbin Normal University, Harbin 150025, China)

Abstract

In the context of global warming, a key scientific question for the sustainable development of the Arctic tourism industry is whether the region’s climate is becoming more suitable for tourism. Based on the ERA5-HEAT (Human thErmAl comforT) dataset from the European Center for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), this study used statistical methods such as climatic tendency rate and RAPS to analyze the spatial-temporal changes in Arctic summer climate comfort zones from 1979 to 2019 and to explore the influence of changes in climate comfort on Arctic tourism. The results showed the following: (1) With the increase in the Arctic summer temperature, the universal thermal climate index (UTCI) rose significantly from 1979 to 2019 at a rate of 0.457 °C/10a. There was an abrupt change in 2001, when the climate comfort changed from “colder” to “cool”, and the climate comfort has remained cool over the past decade (2010–2019). (2) With the increase in Arctic summer temperatures, the area assessed as “comfortable” increased significantly from 1979 to 2019 at a rate of 2.114 × 10 5 km 2 /10a. Compared with the comfortable area in the 1980s, the comfortable area increased by 6.353 × 10 5 km 2 over the past 10 years and expanded to high-latitude and high-altitude areas, mainly in Kola Peninsula, Putorana Plateau, and Verkhoyansk Mountains in Russia, as well as the Brooks Mountains in Alaska. (3) With the increase in Arctic summer temperatures, the number of days rated comfortable on 30% of the grid increased significantly from 1979 to 2019 (maximum increase: 31 days). The spatial range of the area with a low level of comfortable days narrowed and the spatial range of the area with a high level of such days expanded. The area with 60–70 comfortable days increased the most (4.57 × 10 5 km 2 ). The results of this study suggest that global warming exerts a significant influence on the Arctic summer climate comfort level and provides favorable conditions for further development of regional tourism resources.

Suggested Citation

  • Yutao Huang & Xuezhen Zhang & Dan Zhang & Lijuan Zhang & Wenshuai Zhang & Chong Ren & Tao Pan & Zheng Chu & Yuying Chen, 2021. "Spatial-Temporal Characteristics of Arctic Summer Climate Comfort Level in the Context of Regional Tourism Resources from 1979 to 2019," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-15, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:23:p:13056-:d:688066
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Førland, Eirik J. & Steen Jacobsen, Jens Kr. & Denstadli, Jon Martin & Lohmann, Martin & Hanssen-Bauer, Inger & Hygen, Hans Olav & Tømmervik, Hans, 2013. "Cool weather tourism under global warming: Comparing Arctic summer tourists' weather preferences with regional climate statistics and projections," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 567-579.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jianwei Qi & Zhaoping Yang & Fang Han & Baoshi He & Xuankai Ma, 2023. "Spatial–Temporal Characteristics of Human Thermal Comfort in Xinjiang: Based on the Universal Thermal Climate Index from 1981 to 2019," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-16, September.

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